Moscow Takes New Look at Neighbors

By

Alan Cullison Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Updated March 28, 2005 11:59 p.m. ET

MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has rushed to embrace a new government in the former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan, a move suggesting the Kremlin learned a lesson from its botched handling of the recent revolution in Ukraine.

But while Mr. Putin has absorbed the neighborhood's latest change in power more gracefully, Moscow remains intent on keeping nearby governments in its fold as a wave of revolution sweeps the former Soviet Union. The revolt in Kyrgyzstan -- the third in the former Soviet Union in two years...